Harrisburg water meter woes: #HBGNext

Note: We received this letter to the editor just as we launched #HBGNext.

My mother lives in the City of Harrisburg; I live in Susquehanna Township. Both of us receive our water and water bills from the City of Harrisburg. Each month, we both submit our meter readings to the city on the back on our water bill statements, and each month we receive an estimated bill for the exact same amount as the previous month. Two months ago, my mother received a bill for almost $300, about four times the amount she usually pays. She was shocked. I received a bill showing a credit balance, as I had overpaid on all those previously estimated bills. Some of my neighbors received similar bills, either owing a great deal more than usual or having a credit for overpaying.

A few years ago, the City of Harrisburg installed outside meters in the city and in Susquehanna Township so monthly water readings could be scanned from outside the home. I have been told the batteries in those outside meters are dead and the city doesn’t have the money to replace them.

I went to the water bureau on another matter, but inquired as to why my mother and I were constantly receiving estimated bills when we submit our meter readings each month. The clerk said our statements, with those readings, go to the treasurer’s office first and may not arrive in the water bureau for months because “they are backed up down there.”

The person ahead of me in line at the water bureau was an elderly lady who owed over $800 for water service. She said she was unable to go down to the basement to read the meter and didn’t know how to read it anyway. She had to pay $300 today to keep her water on and the clerk told her she needed to pay another $250 by the end of the month. The clerk said she would send someone out to install a battery and take a reading.

How many people, like myself, are overpaying for their water every month? But more importantly, how many people, like my mother and that elderly lady, are being under-billed and then face exorbitant bills when the city gets around to figuring out what they owe?

Something needs to be fixed!

THERESA SENECA, Susquehanna Twp.

Postscript: After sending in this note about her experience, Ms. Seneca provided an email update.

“Apparently there are some batteries available to replace the dead ones in the meters. Within an hour of my return from the water bureau, a man came and put a new battery in the meter at my mother's home. He said it will provide them with a reading each month so we're assuming she won't be getting estimated billings any more. Time will tell, I guess."

Are you having trouble with your water bills from the city? Let us know in the comments below.

#HBGNextis a campaign by PennLive and The Patriot-News to empower you to help chart a better future for Harrisburg. Join in by sharing your ideas and letting us know what’s happening in your corner of Harrisburg life. Email us at HBGNext@pennlive.com, use the Twitter hashtag #HBGNext or visit pennlive.com/HBGNext.